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CHAP. 48. (25.)—THE TREES AND SHRUBS OF THE MEDITER-
RANEAN. THE PHYCOS, PRASON, OR ZOSTER.

Shrubs and trees grow in the sea1 as well; those of our
sea2 are of inferior size, while, on the other hand, the Red Sea
and all the Eastern Ocean are filled with dense forests. No
other language has any name for the shrub which is known to
the Greeks as the "phycos,"3 since by the word "alga"4 a
mere herb is generally understood, while the "phycos" is a
complete shrub. This plant has a broad leaf of a green colour, which is by some called "prason,"5 and by others is
known as "zoster."6 Another kind,7 again, has a hairy sort
of leaf, very similar to fennel, and grows upon rocks, while
that previously mentioned grows in shoaly spots, not far from
the shore. Both kinds shoot in the spring, and die in autumn.8
The phycos9 which grows on the rocks in the neighbourhood
of Crete, is used also for dyeing purple; the best kind being
that produced on the north side of the island, which is the
case also with sponges of the very best quality. A third kind,10
again, is similar in appearance to grass; the root of it is
knotted, and so is the stalk, which resembles that of a reed.

1 He alludes to various kinds of fucus or sea-weed, which grows to a
much larger size in the Eastern seas.

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